Temple Emanu-El unveils prayer book honoring 125-year history in Birmingham

Temple Emanu-El, Birmingham's oldest synagogue, unveiled a tribute to its 125-year history on Friday night with a prayer book tailored for the use of its congregation.

The new books are in the pews and ready for this morning's Sabbath service.

View full sizeLinda StelterThis is a page from Temple Emanu-El's new prayer book. "We decided, 'Let's do something that could be distinct for us,'" said Temple Emanu-El Rabii Jonathan Miller.

"We decided, 'Let's do something that could be distinct for us,'" said Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Jonathan Miller. "I think we'll be using this for the next generation."

With funding from members Charles and Patsy Collat, the temple undertook the project of producing a full-color, hardback book chock-full of colorful artwork and easy-to-read liturgies.

Amy Begun Saab, a teacher in Temple Emanu-El's preschool class and a watercolor painter, was commissioned to do the artwork. Robin Berger, director of the project, was familiar with her artwork and asked her to take on the challenge of creating a set of original watercolors.

"It was a total leap of faith," Saab said.

View full sizeLinda StelterAmy Begun Saab did the watercolor paintings that illustrate the cover and run alongside the prayers in the book.

Between April and December of 2008, she painted 30 watercolors in 8-inch-by-10-inch format and 10 smaller pieces, all based on features at Temple Emanu-El including architectural features, stained-glass windows and sculptures. She blended the elements into icons that run alongside and illustrate prayers throughout the book.

Saab worked with Miller, Cantor Jessica Roskin and Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss, who advised her on integrating the art with the prayers. "It's not just pretty; it was put there with a purpose," Miller said.

The temple printed 3,000 hardback copies: 1,500 that open from left to right, and 1,500 that open right to left, which is how Hebrew is written. The books all include English translations of the Hebrew prayers and liturgies.

Miller oversaw the translations. "We want the English to accurately reflect the meaning of the Hebrew," he said.

View full sizeLinda StelterMembers of Temple Emanu-El place stamps on the inside covers of the new prayer books.

Part of the need for the new prayer book was the congregation's dissatisfaction with prayer books published nationally for the Reform Judaism movement.

The 1975 prayer book for Reform Judaism, the "Gates of Prayer," offered 10 different Friday night Sabbath services, including an atheist service and a social justice service. "It reflected the seventies," Miller said.

When it was updated in the 1980s, it had a focus on gender neutrality in the language, Miller said.

The most recent prayer book for Reform Judaism is so full of alternate readings that it makes it complicated to follow along, he said. "We thought it was too difficult to navigate through it," Miller said. "Our folks didn't feel quite comfortable with it."

Temple Emanu-El's prayer book, called T'rumot Ha Lev, or "Offerings of the Heart," uses large type and contains most prayers on one or two pages, using versions preferred by the congregation with an emphasis on respect for tradition and ease of use.

"It's so particular to our synagogue." Miller said. "Everything was done with great love."